Power Distribution & Utilization – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 01

PDU – Lab # 01
 Study and analysis of different parts of a
power cable and procedure for calculating
the appropriate cable size.
 Build an understanding about the working
of Power Distribution Trainer.

Lab Objectives:

 To observe the power cable into its distinguished parts and understand the working of each one.
 Select the appropriate cable size for the given load by utilizing mathematical techniques and other
parameters.
 To understand and get hands on experience of power distribution trainer.

Apparatus:

 Dissected Cables
 Vernier Caliper
 Given Load
 Three-Phase Power Supply
 Power Circuit Breaker
 Busbar with Disconnectors
 Three-Phase Transformer
 Overhead Line Model
 Moving-Coil Ammeter (2.5 A)
 Moving-Iron Voltmeter (600 V)

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power Distribution & Utilization – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 01

Literature:

A cable is defined as an assembly of conductors and insulators used for the transfer of power in densely
populated urban areas. Cables are mostly laid under the ground in order not to disturb the land beauty
and to avoid using the land for power transmission purposes.

1. Parts of cable

A cable is composed of the following parts;

 Core
All cables either have a central core (conductor) or several cores made of strands of Copper or
Aluminum conductors having highest conductivity. Conductors are stranded in order to reduce
the skin effect.
 Insulation
It is provided to insulate the conductors from each other and from the outside periphery. The
common insulating materials are Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polyethylene.
 Metallic Sheath
Metallic Sheath protects the cable against the entry of moisture. It is made of lead, some alloy of
lead or Aluminum.
 Bedding
In order to protect the metallic sheath from injury, bedding is wound over it. It consists of paper
tape compounded with a fibrous material.
 Armoring
It consists of one or two layers of galvanized steel wires or two layers of steel tape, to avoid the
mechanical injury. Armoring provides mechanical strength to the cable.
 Serving
A layer of fibrous material used to protect the armoring.

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power Distribution & Utilization – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 01

2. Types of Cables

 Single Core Cables

 Double Core Cables

 Three Core Cables

 Four Core Cables

3. Size of cables

The following three main factors influence the selection of a cable to satisfy the circuit requirements:
(a) Current-carrying capacity dependent upon the method of installation and the presence of external
influences, such as thermal insulation, which restrict the operating temperature of the cable.
(b) Voltage drop dependent upon the impedance of the cable, the magnitude of the load current and the
load power factor.
(c) Short-circuit temperature limit dependent upon energy produced during the short-circuit condition.

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power Distribution & Utilization – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 01

LAB TASKS

Task 1: You are given three cables of unknown cross section: find out the following information
about each cable.

Task 2: Determine the size of cable required & voltage drop in the cable.

Situation: A 150kW, three-phase load is supplying from a 400V, 50Hz supply. The circuit is protected
using (BSEN 60898 Type B) circuit breaker and is situated 150m away from the distribution board. It is
run with two other power circuits and is buried in the ground at a depth of 0.8m. There the soil
resistivity is 1.2 ohm-m. The temperature within the installation can be assumed to be 30 ºC. Calculate
the size of cable required, assume armored Cu cable is used here.

Step #01
Determine the current requirements of the circuit. This current is known as Design current, either
specified by the manufacturer or can be calculated by the formulae.

Design Current (IN) = kilo Watt Power/ Single Phase Voltage x power factor (For 1 phase)
Design Current (IN) = kilo Watt Power/ √3 x Line Voltage x power factor (For 3 phase)

If kVA power is given the above formula will change accordingly. If motor power is given in hp then
use the conversion 1hp=746 Watts.

Here,
Design Current (IN) = _______________________ = Amps

Step #02
Determine the method of cable installation to be used.
Installation Conditions: The current-carrying capacity of a cable is dependent on the method of
installation to maintain the temperature of the cable within its operating limits. Different methods of
installation vary the rate at which the heat generated by the current flow is dissipated to the surrounding
medium. Specific conditions of installation are there like cables installed with or without wiring
enclosures in air, in the ground or embedded in building materials.

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power Distribution & Utilization – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 01

Step #03
Determine the environmental conditions in the vicinity of the cable installation, where applicable, like
(i) The ambient air or soil temperature
(ii) The depth of laying rating factor
(iii) The soil thermal resistivity rating factor
Use any cable’s table book to find out the correction factor values. Here, the correction factors from the
tables:
Grouping Factor (Cg): _______
Ambient Temperature (Ca): _______
Soil Resistivity Factor (Cr): _______
Depth of laying factor (Cd): _______

Step #04
Apply the correction factors to determine the current carrying capacity (Ic) of the cable by using the
formula.
1. Current carrying capacity of cable = Design current / Correction Factors

The above factors should be applied according to the design situation.

2. Current carrying capacity of cable = Design current / Cg x Ca x Cr x Cd

Here,
1. Current carrying capacity of cable = ______________
2. Current carrying capacity of cable = ______________
Minimum cable size = _____________ mm2

Finding the Protective Device Size (IF).

The design current should be no greater than the fuse rating. The fuse rating must be no greater than the
current carrying capacity of the cable. The current carrying capacity of the cable should not be greater
than the tabulated capacity of the cable i.e.
IN ≤IF ≤ IC

The Worst-Case Scenario

A cable may experience various environments along its route. For example, it may start at a
switchboard, run through the switch room in a trench with a lid or steel flooring, pass through a duct in a
wall and under a roadway, run a long way directly buried and finish on a ladder rack at the consumer.
At each of these environments the thermal resistivity and ambient temperature will be different. The
environment that causes the most derating of the rated current should be taken and used for the whole
cable.

Determination of voltage drop from milli volts per amp-meter

According to IEE Regulation 522-8 of the 15th edition, it is stipulated that: The voltage drop within the
installation does not exceed a value appropriate to the safe functioning of the associated equipment in
normal service. For final circuits protected by an over current protective device having a normal current

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power Distribution & Utilization – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 01

not exceeding 100A, this requirement is deemed to be satisfied if the drop in voltage from the origin of
the circuit to any other point in the circuit does not exceed 2.5 percent of the nominal voltage at the
design current, disregarding staring conditions. The voltage drop can be determine using the following
formula for applications where only the route length and load current of balanced circuits are known.
Voltage Drop (Vd) = L x IN x Vc / 1000

Where,
Vc = The millivolt drop per ampere-metre route length of circuit, as shown in the tables for various
conductors, in millivolts per ampere metre (mV/A.m)

Vd = Actual voltage drop, in volts

L = route length of circuit, in meters

IN = the current to be carried by the cable, in amperes.

Here,
L = 150m
IN = __________ Amps
Vc= __________ mV/A.m
Voltage Drop (Vd) = _________________
1000
Voltage Drop (Vd) = _______ i.e. % of 400V.

Hence the selected cable of ……….. mm2 is suitable for normal current of ………. Amps & cable
length of 150m.

Task 3: Answer following questions.

 Give the definition of following terms:

1. Coefficient of linear expansion

2. Temperature coefficient

3. Thermal conductivity

4. Resistivity

5. Ampacity

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power Distribution & Utilization – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 01

 Give short answers to the following questions:

1. What will be the difference in size of Cu & Al conductor for same installation?
2. Why do we use ACSR conductors for transmission not in distribution?
3. Mostly Aluminum is used in transmission system as a conductor, why not Cu as a conductor?

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Marks Awarded: ___________ / Out of 10.

Lab Supervisor Signature/Date: ___________________

Comments: _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus